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Donald Burkettwas named Senior Director, LP
Technology, Investigation Systems and Safety for Office Depot. Donald
was previously the DVP of Investigations and Systems for Sears Holdings
Management Corporation. He has also held other director level positions for
Office Max where he was the Director of Investigations and Systems and at Hills
Department Stores where hew as the Director of Loss Prevention. Donald earned
his Bachelor's of Arts degree in Criminology from Indiana University of
Pennsylvania. Congratulations Donald!

Target lawsuits consolidated in Minnesota - a small win for TargetAll lawsuits relating to the 2013 data breach at Target Corp.
will be consolidated before a single court in Minnesota. The U.S. Judicial Panel
on Multidistrict Litigation has assigned all data breach suits to be heard by
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson in Minnesota. There are currently at least 33
separate lawsuits in 18 districts related to the breach, and more may still be
filed. This is a victory of sorts for Target. By centralizing the cases in
Target’s home state, the retailer will eliminate duplicative discovery, prevent
inconsistent pre-trial rulings, and conserve the resources of the parties and
the judiciary, according to a court order. (Source
chainstoreage.com)

Japanese shops digitally label customers by faces; If staff calls a person a
'complainer,' other stores are warned Automatically recorded images of
shoppers’ faces taken by security cameras have been shared among 115 Japanese
supermarkets and convenience stores as an anti-shoplifting measure, without
customers’ knowledge, The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper has learned. Although the
images are used mainly to prevent shoplifting, experts and industry bodies say
it is necessary to make clear rules because providing people’s facial data to a
third party could constitute an invasion of privacy. The facial data in question
were shared by 115 stores of 50 separate operators that have installed a
shoplifting prevention system that a Nagoya-based software development company
began marketing in October. (Source
columbian.com)

White
Paper: 6 steps retailers should take today to reduce out-of-stocksRetailers know that stockouts impact financial performance and
customer satisfaction, yet relatively few have measured and implemented
solutions to improve their merchandise availability. But that’s changing –
quickly and dramatically. Everyone knows the old adage about success in retail
being all about “location, location, location.” Well, it’s still true – except
that “location” now also refers to understanding the location of merchandise and
stock position at the precise moment when a shopper wants to make a purchase –
in store, online or both. After all, nothing creates more of a drag on buying
behavior in a specific retail outlet than when the desired item is out of stock
(or worse, it can’t be located by the store at that time). Research suggests
that shoppers will change stores after 2.4 instances of finding their desired
merchandise out of stock. So understanding exactly the store's inventory
position and where the merchandise is located at the time of purchase decision –
on the shelf, in back-room inventory, somewhere else in the store other than its
designated area, or at another store location – is paramount to ensuring that
the shopper walks away having made a purchase and is happy about their
experience. Retailers are all too aware of the sources of out-of-stocks:
Outdated inventory management systems with 60% accuracy levels; supply chain
inefficiencies; shrink, both from internal and external sources; poor execution
of in-store processes for stocking merchandise and handling returns, and many
other causes. But what’s less certain is how to effectively, efficiently and
sustainably reduce out-of-stocks.
Here are six steps retailers can – and should – take now in order to accelerate
reduction in out-of-stocks.

MillerCoors two ex-employees embezzled millions
After an extensive investigation MillerCoor referred two former employees, David
Colletti and Paul Edwards for falsifying invoices with certain vendors in a
multiyear scheme that resulted in several mllion dollars. MillerCoors referred
Colletti and Edwards to federal authorities for criminal prosecution and that
the company is seeking to recover the funds from a combination of insurance and
restitution in the criminal process. The full report is not yet available and
non of the parties will comment at this point.
(Source
cnbc.com)

In this remote interview, Lamar Pierce, Associate Professor of Strategy at
Washington University in St. Louis, discusses his recent study on employee theft
and productivity and how IT monitoring impacts them. The study focuses on the
ethical issue of employee misconduct and how they relate to productivity and
performance. Lamar walks us through his findings - as well as the key takeaways
for the retail Loss Prevention industry. Watch the interview
here.

Episode Sponsored By:

LP Executives – 2014 LP Video Challenge

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Or maybe one that's just downright funny or interesting.
Send it to us and be entered into the new 2014 LP Video Challenge.

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A big week for data security
There were a lot of developments in the world of data security last week with a
judge agreeing to consolidate lawsuits related to the Target data breach in a
Minnesota court, more hearings in Washington, D.C. and troubling research about
consumers sharing personal data on public Wi-Fi. Target won a victory of sorts
in its ongoing data breach nightmare when the U.S. Judicial Panel on
Multidistrict Litigation ordered that multiple lawsuits accusing Target of
failing to protect customers from a data breach will be consolidated in the
retailer's home state Minnesota. While Target’s life was being simplified
somewhat, there were more hearings in Washington, D.C. regarding what to do
about data security in an increasing digital world. Elizabeth Ramirez,
chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, in testimony before the Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, called for new
legislation related to data security. In calling for legislation, the Commission
recommended Congress strengthen its existing authority governing data security
tools, and that it require companies in appropriate circumstances to notify
consumers affected by a data breach. (Source
retailingtoday.com)

Making retailers liable for damages from hacking
The recent hacking of customer data from Target Corp. computers is roiling the
California Legislature. Last week, two members of the Assembly touted a bill to
strengthen consumer safeguards and limit the type of information collected and
retained by retailers. The most controversial feature of the bill would shift
the responsibility for any data breach from the banks and credit card issuers to
the retail businesses where the breach occurred. Specifically, retailers would
be responsible for notifying customers of any hacking incident and would be
liable for financial damages. Consumer and privacy advocates are backing the
Assembly bill, which they consider the broadest in the nation. Among other
things, it would prohibit the sale of Social Security numbers.
(Source
latimes.com)

"Fraud is not a person - it is a dynamic grouping of statistics
that deviate from the norm."
Stuart B. Levine, CFI, CFCI
CEO, The Zellman Group & Zellman Fraudnet

The Loss
Prevention Foundation expands into Europe through partnership with Oris Forums

MATTHEWS, NC (April 3, 2014) - The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF)
continues its international expansion efforts with the announcement of its
latest partnership with Oris Forums, a publications, events, education and
research company based in the UK and whose specialization is in the area of
retail loss prevention education and communication. Most recently, Oris Forums
partnered with LP Magazine with an EU edition of the award-winning US
publication. This strategic partnership between The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF)
and Oris Forums will allow European retail professional to benefit from the
first-class accreditation program in loss prevention.

"LPF has been very successful with elevating the loss prevention professionalism
in North America. As a result of this success, we have had many countries
express interest in bringing the validated content to their countries as a means
to elevate the professionalism of their loss prevention efforts," says Gene
Smith, LPC, president of The Loss Prevention Foundation.

Louise Henham, ORIS Media, said: "We have already had great success in helping
to launch the Europe edition of the LP Magazine, as well as the LP Magazine EU
App for iPhone and Android mobile devices. We see this partnership with the Loss
Prevention Foundation in direct compliment in our efforts in further serving the
EU marketplace with the best education and information available for the loss
prevention profession"

"LPF certification is designed to provide LP professionals with the recognition
and integrity that not only demonstrates the professionalism of the industry but
it also demonstrates that retailers are keen to advance in their profession,
improve their knowledge and create benchmarks for the wider industry to follow,
" says Kevin McMenimen, LPC, founding board member and international liaison the
Loss Prevention Foundation. "With many leading US brands already on board, we've
successfully established LPF certification as the best in the industry and we
look forward to expanding into Europe and supporting LP professionals across the
UK."

While the course is available through the foundation's website,
www.losspreventionfoundation.org, the exam will be proctored at Pearson Vue
exam centers located in most of UK's major metropolitan areas. In addition to
the courseware being made available, a chapter of the LPF will be launched in
the UK, with future chapters to be initiated across regions of Europe. These
chapters will have local membership and networking and each will be led by a
local retail advisory council.

The official move to Europe is part of the Loss Prevention Foundation's global
expansion into the top five English speaking regions around the world. The
not-for-profit organization has already successfully launched in India and
already has plans for further expansions into South Africa, Australia and
Caribbean/Caricom nations in 2015.

Costco Stands Apart, Takes Customer Safety To The Next Level
Costco, the largest membership club in the United States, is a no-frills
retailer that specializes in discounts and deals through the power of bulk
purchasing. The wholesale retailer focuses on winning its large customer base
over with price, skipping the ‘luxuries’ of providing shopping backs or
individually stocked shelves. In response to an announcement that certain cheese
products from Parker Farms’ may have been contaminated with potentially deadly
Listeria, Costco used shopping card data to email all members who purchased the
cheese products about the recall. Though Walmart, Whole Foods, Aldi, Price
Chopper, and Target all sold Parker Farms products as well, Costco stands apart
as the retailer that leveraged its online channel to quickly warn its customers,
demonstrating a true commitment to food and customer safety. Yesterday’s
mobilization of shopping card data to warn affected consumers was not Costco’s
first time at bat: earlier this month, Costco utilized membership data to
contact everyone who purchased recalled select Kirkland snacks that may have
been contaminated with Salmonella. (Source
retailsolutionsonline.com)

Bernard “Bernie” Grucza today pleaded guilty to first-degree
manslaughter in the homicide of Laurence C. “Larry” Wells II at the
Toys R Us store last June. Grucza was charged with second-degree
murder. “One of the reasons my client is doing this is that he is
taking responsibility for what he did and in part the other reason
he is doing it is to bring closure to the Wells family, said defense
attorney Frank Housh. He will be sentenced to 25 years to life when
he is sentenced May 19. That sentence will run concurrently with a
charge of violating an order of protection related to possession of
a firearm. Grucza, a loss prevention officer for the store, was not
arrested and charged until October, after DNA linked him to the
fatal stabbing of Wells, an assistant manager at the Hamburg store.
At the time of the arrest, police told The Buffalo News that Grucza
used a key to gain access to the building at Milestrip and McKinley
in the early morning of June 29 with the intention to steal either
cash or merchandise. He bumped into Wells and ended up fatally
stabbing him, according to police officials. “We do not believe he
went to the store with the intention of killing the assistant
manager,” a police official said at the time of the arrest. “It
looks like it started out as a theft and turned into a homicide.”
Investigators said Grucza is also a suspect in other burglaries at
other Toys R Stores in southern Pennsylvania.
(Source
wivb.com) (Source
buffalonews.com)

See our
Special Report on the story from last October after Grucza was
first charged with the murder. View our timeline of the shocking
events
here, along with more in-depth reporting on what has been one of
the most startling stories for our industry in recent time.

Tear
gas, K9 unit end standoff in Hawaiian Gardens, CA strip mall A
seven-hour standoff in Hawaiian Gardens with a man wanted for reportedly
shooting the mother of his two children came to an end Saturday afternoon when
he gave up after sheriff’s officials lobbed tear gas into his vehicle and
deployed a K9 unit. The man, identified as 33-year-old Alfredo Lopez Jr. of
Eastvale, reportedly shot his estranged girlfriend at least six times with a
small-caliber handgun in Eastvale early Saturday, according to Riverside County
Sheriff’s officials. (Source
dailybulletin.com)

U.S. Marshalls shot 2 homicide suspects near Fairfield, CA Walmart Two
suspects were shot by law enforcement officers near a Walmart in Fairfield
last Thursday afternoon during a federal task force operation. The federal task
force, which included the U.S. Marshals, according to Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank
Newsom, were looking for suspects wanted for attempted homicide. No officers
were injured in the incidents. Both suspects were taken into custody. (Source
news10.net)

4 ShopRite Grocery store Employees tied up during Hudson Valley, NY armed
robbery Police say a robber tied up four workers at a Hudson Valley
grocery store and fled with cash and lottery tickets. The robbery happened
Friday night at a ShopRite store in Newburgh. The robber made the store manager
open a safe at gunpoint. Police said the robber tied up the manager and three
other employees and then fled with an unknown amount of cash as well as lottery
tickets. The manager eventually broke free and called police.
(Source
dailyjournal.net)

Niles,
Ohio Police converge on Eastwood Mall for Active Shooter Training About 90
officers, security personnel and law enforcement agents from 17 different
agencies were in the mall after hours to take part in an active shooter training
exercise. The Cafaro Company has held similar training exercises at other malls
around the country, but this was the first time at the Eastwood Mall. Eastwood
Mall Property Manager Ken Kollar said it is important to be prepared for a
worst-case scenario, so they treated the scene like a real mass shooting.
(Source
wkbn.com)

Harris
County (TX) Deputy’s arrest Couple on the run wanted for credit card fraud
scheme; $4500 in Target gift cards recoved+100 other gift cards Harris
County Sheriff's Office investigators are hoping the public can lead them to a
couple wanted for a sophisticated credit card fraud enterprise involving over
100 known victims. When the deputy approached the vehicle, he saw Packnett try
to hide what appeared to be a large stack of credit cards. As the deputy tried
to detain Packnett, he fled on foot but was caught by other deputies in the
area. Craig tried to flee the scene in the vehicle but was unsuccessful. Both
Craig and Packnett were arrested for evading arrest. Inside their vehicle, later
found to be a rental car from Louisiana, deputies say they found close to
$10,000 in cash, $4,500 in gift cards from Target and more than 100 other gift
cards. Both Craig and Packnett quickly bonded out of jail.
(Source
abclocal.go.com)

Fresno woman jailed for theft, fake Wal-Mart receipts
The woman, Sabrina Sidhu, 45, tried to return $2,400 worth of merchandise to a
Visalia Wal-Mart on March 29. Wal-Mart employees denied the returns and
contacted loss prevention, which determined the receipt was a fake, Visalia
police said. Sidhu fled the store with the $2,400 worth of property. Visalia
police, with the help of the Central Valley Joint Fugitive Task Force, tracked
down Sidhu in a central Fresno home Thursday. Detectives found computers,
printing material and the unopened merchandise stolen from Wal-Mart in the home.
(Source
fresnobee.com)

Three from Miami accused of Victoria’s Secret thefts in Naples
Naples Police say they arrested a trio of shoplifters Friday with thousands of
dollars worth of items from Coastland Center mall. Kennedy Rolle, 35, Veronica
Bowles, 29, and Zipporah Abraham, 28, all of Miami, are charged with grand
theft. Bowles also is charged with possession of marijuana and possession of
drug paraphernalia. After witnesses reported a theft from the Victoria’s Secret
store at the mall, Naples police said they tracked down Rolle, Bowles and
Abraham in a Ford Fusion in the mall parking lot and found three bags of items
totaling almost $2,400 in the trunk. Officers also found hundreds of lotions,
sprays and candles from Victoria’s Secret and Bath and Body Works worth another
$3,800 in the trunk, reports say. (Source
naplesnews.com)

Donald Burkett was named Senior
Director, LP Technology, Investigation Systems and Safety for Office Depot.Shawn McRay was promoted to Manager
of Loss Prevention Distribution for The Children's Place.Derek Ciceri was promoted to Field
Director of Loss Prevention for The Children's Place.Julie McMahon was named Regional
Loss Prevention Manger for Canada for The Children's Place.Nathan Bradfield, CFI was promoted
Corporate Investigator for Lowe's.

4 Critical Traits of Great Leaders
Most of us strive to be great leaders; we want people to follow us and respect
us, and have more responsibility, but how do you go about doing this? What's the
proper way to become a true leader? If you have devotion, time and patience you
can get there. Here are some traits of great leaders, that should help you
create a path! (Shower
your people with a can-do attitude)

How to Improve Your Decision Making Skills We have a constant need to
make decisions, whether hard or simple, every day. At work or at home, we need
to decide what sort of food to eat, or who is the best person for a promotion.
Most of these decisions are based on reason and what we feel to be the best
choice, or rational thinking. But try using these tips to boost your ability to
make decisions. (Use
a TRICK)

Getting involved in a process is an obligation and taking it
seriously is absolutely critical to your success regardless of what the process
involves. Whether it's looking at a job or sitting on a company committee. Once
you've committed, your reputation, your image, your future is at stake.
Minimizing it won't decrease the impact nor will it reduce the expectations of
others. Because when you become part of a process, other people are either
looking at you or they're counting on you to be your best or give your best. So
once you've committed, follow through and deliver your best.